Lampard scored the Blues' winner as they beat the current league leaders 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in a closely-fought contest to move to within 12 points of United.

The England midfielder thinks that the result could provide Carlo Ancelotti's with a springboard to go on and secure a shock title triumph, though he admitted that if Chelsea fail to capitalise on the positive result, the win would "mean nothing".

"Does this victory help Arsenal win the title? If Arsenal keep winning, but that's not a given either," Lampard said. "United have enough experience to know it is a marathon and there is a long way to go. But we don't really care about anyone else.

"If we keep winning all our games, we'll be in with a shout. It was important for ourselves to win this for our own confidence but there is still a big gap between ourselves and United.
Statements don't matter unless they're backed up. We need to go on from here.

"We normally go on a late run at this time of the season and that is what we hope to do now. If we don't get a result in our next game, against Blackpool, then this will mean nothing. The old cliche of every game as it comes has never been so important for us.

"We can't get ahead of ourselves. We usually put a run of wins together but we haven't done it so far this season. It is something we need to do now to give us a chance.

"It was important to win a big match again and, in the second half, there was a little of the old Chelsea in there, you could see the power in the team, the commitment and the strength.

"We can play much better. There were times at the end of last season and the beginning of this that our football was top drawer. It was probably as good, if not better, than anyone else in Europe. Lately, we haven't been playing like that but we can get back to those high
levels.''

Chelsea's form has been shaky for several months, but Lampard refuted claims that dressing-room unrest has been responsible. Didier Drogba had been reported to be angry at being dropped for Fernando Torres in recent games, but Lampard rubbished such claims.

"His reaction to losing his place has been brilliant and it is a load of nonsense when people say he has the hump. It has been far from that.

"He has been getting behind the lads, telling us to come on. He has trained with commitment and played with commitment as a substitute. It is nonsense to say he is sulking.''